Swimming device or life-preserver.



` F. GUETTHOEF. SWIMMING DEVICE 0R LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 25, I9I6- I Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

Suva/wko@ attente/1? FELIX GUE'TTHOFF, or THREE RIVE-Rs, lMICHIGAN.

SWIMMING `DEVICE OR LIFE-PRESERVER.

Lang-756.

Specicationiof Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. at, 1917'.

Application viled October 25, 1916. Serialv No. 127,652.

To all whom t may eomem.'

Be it known that I, FELIX GUETTHOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Three Rivers, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Swimming Devices or Life-Preservers, of which the fol-K4 lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a swimming -def vice or life preserver, designed to be worn upon the person of the wearer and beneath a bathing suit or other swimming garment or clothing for the purpose of buoying or supporting the wearer in a body of water, the

yleading thereto, whereby the device may be inflated so as to have a maximum .degree of 'buoying action.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a swimming device or life preserver which is simple of construction, reliable and efficient in action, comparatively inexpensive of production', and in which foldablev plaits are Vprovided which normally lie in folded condition but communicate with the air chambers and are adapted to be expanded' or opened 'upon the expansion. of the'chambers to increase the area thereof.

With these and other' objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described 'and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawinghin which Figure 1 is a v1ew showing the application oflytheinvention. y

Fig. 2 is a` plan view of the device looking toward the outer surface thereof. .l

Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse section. Fig; 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showingfthe device in normal condition. f n

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the device expanded.

In carrying my invention intopractice I provide a swimming device or life preserver 1 which is adapted tobe applied' to thev breast of the wearer and is'oi suitable shape to fit the same and to extend downward from the neck to a point below the waist line. lThe device is provided at its sides with partly circular arm-hole recesses 3 to adapt the device lto extend under thearm pits, and above and below the respective arm-hole recesses the device is provided with tabs or projections 4 and 5. These tabs are providedfwith' buckles, or Vother suitable .fastening meansV 6 for connection with straps 6 for'securing the device about the chest and waist of. the' person of the wearer. l

The device is made of inner and outer plies 7 and 8 of a suitable light strong and durable material, which may bein the nature of water-proof material or a fabricv or other material rendered proof against the escape of air upon immersion in thewater. -These plies of material are marginally united by a line of stitching 9, and are also united by transverse lines of stitching 10 and vertical lines of stitching 11, whereby thespace between the plies is sub-divided into a plurality of air chambers 12. As shown in the present,y instance, these air chambers are arranged in two vertical rows, one on each side of the vertical center of the device, .there being four chambers in each vertical row, or eight chambers in all, but any other suitable give a balance or proper degree of buoying action, v'when the chambers are inflated, throughout the area of the device. By .the

construction described air supply or inating passages, 13'are formed centrally of the device and communicate through lateral outlets 14 with the respective chambers, said passages being in communication at their upper ends with each other'and with a suitable inflating valve 15 carried by a tab 16l projecting `centrally from the upper marginalv edge of the device. v Air is forced into the chambers through this valve so as to fill the chambers under the desired degree of pressure, whereby the device will be inlated yfor flotation in an obvious manner.

In order to increase the air containing capacity of the air chambers, portions of the outer ply 8 and the lines of stitching are so arranged as to form longitudinal and transi number of chambers may be employed, provided the chambers are so arranged as to verse plaits,'17 and 18 which communicate with the respective air chambers. When the device is in normal or uniniiated condition these plaits lie snugly against the outer ply, thus allowing the device to be folded and packed in close compass, but when the deviceV is inflated the plaits are iniated also and form extended buoying surfaces, adding materially to the buoying capacity of the device.

In practice, the device` is designed to ,snugly it upon. the breast and about the body of the wearer and is to be used beneath `a bathing or swimming suit or beneath the experienced swimmer to swim with greater confidence and ease in rough water. The device' may also be employed to perform the function of a life preserver, as will be readily understood.

I claim 1. A swimming device or life preserver comprising a body adapted to be secured to the person of the wearer, said body consisting of outer and inner plies united by longitudinal andtransverse rows of stitching to form'rows of air chambers onv opposite sides thereof, and centrallongitudinal air passages communicating with the respective rows of chambers, the outer ply being provided with plaits or folds communicating with the air chambers and adapted to be inflated therefrom, anda valve communicating with said air passages.

2. A swimming device `or life preserver comprising a body adapted to be secured to the person of the wearer and consisting of inner and outer plies' united to" form air chambers and passages communicating therewith, the outer ply being provided with plaits or folds normally lying kparallel therewith and forming walls of the air chambers when inflated, and a valve communicating with said passages.

In testimony whereof l aiix my signature.

liinLrX GUE'rTi-iorr. 

